• newtown
• recommended
• staff spotlight
• storytime

What's on here?

Teen Idol at Newtown Library!!

Come on down and join our Subtext Karaoke evening for fun, prizes and pizza!

Bring your friends and family.

It's not often your allowed to be noisy in the library!

What: Teen Idol

When: 6.00pm to 8.00pm, Friday 15th July

Where: Newtown Library

Newtown Staff Spotlight:

This month we talk to Marg...

Q:You've just put together an 'Around the World' large print selection at Newtown Library. Are you an intrepid explorer?

A:Yes, there are a few interesting stamps on the passport including Antarctica. I went there as a recipient of the Artists to Antarctica fellowship. There are two attractive looking visa stamps from Vietnam and Cambodia which I visited last year.
I travelled up the Mekong to Cambodia on a houseboat with stops along the way. Trips to Borneo and the Chatham Islands are planned for this year and I like heading off into the bush with my sketchbook and very patient friends.

Q:I know these places inspire your painting. Does your love of art cross over into your work at Newtown Library?

A:I always enjoy seeing the new arts and crafts books that come into the library, because, as a practising artist, I am always interested in new ideas and developments in the art world. Central Library has a great art collection.
I put together a display of art books in collaboration with Stephanie who buys them. It showcased some of the new and interesting art books at Newtown, Brooklyn and Island Bay libraries and proved very popular.
I also did a painting workshop recently with some new migrants which was fun. A couple of years back or whenever the film Narnia screened I painted a mural of the snow queen's Palace that was in the [Newtown Library] tent. Suppose I've had a fascination with snow and icicles since Antarctica.

Q:Can you recommend a book from that display?

A:The Drawing Book: a Survey of Drawing: The Primary Means of Expression - edited by Tania Kovats

Q:Marg, you're a Collection advocate here at Newtown Library. Collection advocate?

A:We are the ones that make sure the shelves are not full to bursting with old and tired looking books. To do this we look at the books that come on rotation from other libraries to make sure they are in good condition and likely to be of interest to our borrowers.
To assist with this we check to see how often the book has gone out in the past. We also process requests to purchase books from customers which are then sent to the Collection Development Team in Central Library who then decide what gets purchased. We also have input into book displays at the library.

Staff Recommend:

My Wife is an Actress (DVD)
Stars Charlotte Gainsbourg and her real life husband having a crise de marriage. Very funny and very fwench --Odette

The Portable Atheist : Essential Readings for the Non-Believer
Edited by Christopher Hitchens
A fascinatingly rich collection of historical and contemporary essays exploring atheism, science and philosophers' response to religious dogma. --Craig

Flight of the Conchords (DVD)
I loved the Flight of the Conchords, the complete first season. Its just really funny, with lots of kiwi humour --Pauline

The Lives of Others (DVD)
A compelling political thriller set in East Berlin between 1984 and 1991. Captain Gerd Weisler, a member of the Stasi (East Germany's secret police) is ordered to spy on a well known playwright. He becomes emotionally involved which has a life long effect on his own life. --Julie

Happy Ending, The Phoenix Foundation (CD)
More great stuff from this terrific Wellington band. Pretty much every song's a winner and the cover art is quite special too. --Fleur

Llamas and Empanadas : 500 Kilometres by Bicycle Through South America, by Eleanor Meecham. --Marg

Musicophilia : Tales of Music and the Brain, by Oliver Sacks.
Gentle, learned and fascinating insights into musical, neurological afflictions and blessings of the brain. --Monty

Storytime

There are pre-school storytimes on every Wednesday at 10.30am.

Come along and join in with the stories, rhymes and songs (that includes you, mums, dads and caregivers!) .

For storytime times at other libraries, have a look at our childrens' services page.